# Tuppence Cowley — The Secret Adversary character guide > Tuppence Cowley in The Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Miss Tuppence, Prudence Cowley, Miss Cowley, little Tuppence, clever little Tuppence **First appearance:** 0003-i-the-young-adventurers-ltd ## Snapshot Broke, bold, and utterly unimpressed by sinister strangers, Tuppence turns a shabby job offer into a career of hunting missing women. ## Who they are A vicar's daughter with no patience for the dull life waiting for her, Tuppence talks her way into an interview with a shifty businessman and walks out with the scent of a mystery. She is the one who answers the advertisement, who wires Tommy on her own ninepence, and who decides on the spot that little Tuppence can look after herself. Her quick judgment and quicker tongue drive the partnership forward, and her refusal to be frightened is exactly what the case demands. ## Relationships ### [Tommy Beresford](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/characters/tommy_beresford) _friendship_ Childhood friends and adventurous partners who work together as amateur detectives. ### [Mrs. Vandemeyer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/characters/mrs_vandemeyer) _rivalry_ Antagonistic captor and interrogator who tries to manipulate Tuppence for information. ### [Mr. Whittington](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/characters/mr_whittington) _professional_ Employer who hires Tuppence for a mysterious job, later revealed as a criminal associate. ### [Mr. Carter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/characters/mr_carter) _professional_ British intelligence officer who recruits and coordinates Tuppence's undercover work. ### [Albert](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/characters/albert) _friendship_ Loyal young assistant who helps Tuppence with errands and surveillance. ### [Jane Finn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/characters/jane_finn) _friendship_ Fellow young woman and key witness whom Tuppence helps rescue and befriend. ### [Mr. Brown](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/characters/mr_brown) _rivalry_ Mysterious master criminal who is Tuppence's ultimate adversary in the plot. ### [Tommy Beresford](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/characters/tommy_beresford) _friendship_ Childhood friends and adventurous partners who work together as amateur detectives. ### [Tommy Beresford](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/characters/tommy_beresford) _friendship_ Childhood friends and adventurous partners who work together as amateur detectives. ### [Mrs. Vandemeyer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/characters/mrs_vandemeyer) _rivalry_ Antagonistic captor and interrogator who tries to manipulate Tuppence for information. ### [Mrs. Vandemeyer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/characters/mrs_vandemeyer) _rivalry_ Antagonistic captor and interrogator who tries to manipulate Tuppence for information. ### [Mr. Whittington](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/characters/mr_whittington) _professional_ Employer who hires Tuppence for a mysterious job, later revealed as a criminal associate. ## In the story ### [The Secret Adversary](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/chapters/the-secret-adversary) Initiates the idea of becoming adventurers; receives a job offer from Mr. Whittington. ### [The Young Adventurers, Ltd.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/chapters/i-the-young-adventurers-ltd) Greets Tommy affectionately; shares her post-war financial woes and proposes the idea of a joint venture; writes the advertisement for their services. ### [II: Mr. Whittington's Offer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/chapters/ii-mr-whittington-s-offer) Tuppence adopts the alias 'Jane Finn' and cleverly negotiates with Mr. Whittington, securing fifty pounds as an advance. ### [A Set Back](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/chapters/iii-a-set-back) Tuppence excitedly shows off her fifty pounds from Whittington and explains how she invented the name Jane Finn, only to learn Tommy had mentioned it. She devises a plan to follow Whittington and, after his disappearance, resolves to place an advertisement to find Jane Finn. ### [IV: Who Is Jane Finn?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/chapters/iv-who-is-jane-finn) Tuppence eagerly tells their story to Mr. Carter and is thrilled to be hired for the adventure, though she is momentarily awed by his presence. ### [Mr. Julius P. Hersheimmer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/chapters/v-mr-julius-p-hersheimmer) Takes the lead in questioning Julius and negotiating with Mr. Carter; shows her practical and bold nature. ### [VI: A Plan of Campaign](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/chapters/vi-a-plan-of-campaign) Proposes the plan to investigate Lusitania survivors, identifies 'Rita' as a clue, and spots Whittington at South Audley Mansions. ### [IX: Tuppence Enters Domestic Service](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/chapters/ix-tuppence-enters-domestic-service) Tuppence takes the initiative to infiltrate Mrs. Vandemeyer's household, adopting the alias Prudence Cooper and using her wits to befriend Albert and secure the job. ### [X: Enter Sir James Peel Edgerton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/chapters/x-enter-sir-james-peel-edgerton) Working undercover as a maid named Prudence, she serves dinner, eavesdrops on a conversation between Mrs. Vandemeyer and Count Stepanov, and later receives a knowing glance and hint from Sir James Peel Edgerton. ### [XI: Julius Tells a Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/chapters/xi-julius-tells-a-story) Visits the Ritz, writes to Mr. Carter, and recounts her meeting with Sir James Peel Edgerton. ### [A Friend in Need](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/chapters/xii-a-friend-in-need) Feels rudderless without Tommy and takes the lead in seeking Sir James's help. ### [The Vigil](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/chapters/xiii-the-vigil) Keeps vigil, makes tea, discovers Mrs. Vandemeyer's body, and searches the room. ### [A Consultation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/chapters/xiv-a-consultation) Present during the consultation with Dr. Hall; returns to the Ritz with Julius. ### [XV: Tuppence Receives a Proposal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/chapters/xv-tuppence-receives-a-proposal) Receives a marriage proposal from Julius, grapples with her love for Tommy, and receives a telegram from him. ### [Annette](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/chapters/xvii-annette) Mentioned as having bombarded Mr. Carter with letters about Tommy; she is out when Tommy returns to the Ritz. ### [The Telegram](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/chapters/xviii-the-telegram) Disappears after receiving a fake telegram from 'Tommy' and is presumed captured by the enemy. Her note to Julius shows loyalty to Tommy. ### [XIX: Jane Finn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/chapters/xix-jane-finn) Mentioned as having disappeared a week ago; her kidnapping is a countermove by the gang. ### [In Downing Street](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/chapters/xxii-in-downing-street) Mentioned as the subject of Tommy's concern; he believes she is alive and that her disappearance was a plant. ### [XXIII: A Race Against Time](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/chapters/xxiii-a-race-against-time) Imprisoned at Astley Priors; sends a warning note to Tommy. ### [Julius Takes a Hand](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/chapters/xxiv-julius-takes-a-hand) Obeys Tommy's orders, escapes with Jane, and is later rescued by Julius. ### [Mr. Brown](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/chapters/xxvi-mr-brown) Accompanies Sir James and Jane to the house in Soho, sensing danger and suspecting Mr. Brown's presence. She is present when Sir James reveals his true identity. ### [XXVII: A Supper Party at the Savoy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/chapters/xxvii-a-supper-party-at-the-savoy) Playfully teases Julius about his earlier proposal and participates in dressing Jane for the party. ### [XXVIII: And After](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/chapters/xxviii-and-after) Tuppence teases Tommy about proposing and dreams of their future home together, showing her playful and romantic side. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/characters/tuppence_cowley - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/characters